Time and date
CONSTRUCTION DIRECTORY
UK Construction News Archive for October 2009
30/10/2009
A Liverpool-based engineering company has designed a new product that has revolutionised the anti-theft sector of the UK HGV trailer industry. The Airlock device has been developed for the prevention of theft by I O K Engineering and easily and securely protects the trailer from unauthorised moveme
30/10/2009
Construction union UCATT and the other unions representing local government craftworkers (JNC Red Book Agreement) have reluctantly accepted the tabled pay offer for 2009/2010 to ensure workers receive the backdated pay increase in time for Christmas. The majority of pay grades will receive a 1% pay
30/10/2009
The Homes and Communities Agency (HCA) has confirmed that it has finished a thorough assessment of the 270 stalled housing schemes shortlisted to receive funding under the Kickstart Programme. A total of 91 schemes have been approved for funding, with another 63 approved subject to conditions be
30/10/2009
The Health and Safety Executive (HSE) is warning landlords to be extra vigilant in ensuring the properties they own contain safe gas appliances that are correctly checked and certified. It follows the sentencing of landlord Helen Jayne Beckett, of Lodge Hill, Addingham, Ilkley, who was fined £1,000
30/10/2009
HSS Hire, the UK's award-winning tool and equipment hire company, is adding a range of plant equipment to its hire fleet. Traditionally known for its expertise in the provision of small tools and equipment and related hire services, HSS is now extending its relationship with Irish partners Laois H
30/10/2009
One of the biggest library redevelopments in the UK has moved a major step closer. Liverpool City Council has chosen Inspire Partnership for the £50 million Liverpool Central Library and Archive PFI contract, following a Europe-wide search for a blue chip development partner. The successful contra
30/10/2009
The development of Wakefield, Trinity Walk Shopping Centre is back on track after a consortium has stepped in to complete the 550,000 sq ft shopping centre, which went into administration early this year. The consortium, a joint venture company comprising of Sovereign Land, AREA Property Partners a
30/10/2009
E.ON has taken the next step in developing its Humber Gateway offshore wind farm by submitting a planning application to build a new substation on industrial land near Salt End. The substation would connect the proposed wind farm, located approximately 8km off the Holderness coast, to the national
30/10/2009
The South West's ambition to be a global centre for marine energy research has received a further boost with a £1.2 million investment in a new wave tank testing facility. The wave tanks are being funded by the South West RDA (Regional Development Agency) as part of the Agency's three-year £7.3 mi
30/10/2009
One of the UK's fastest growing online tool retailers, Toolbox, has announced the launch of a new twin pack from Makita, comprising of a 10.8Volt Drill Driver and Impact Driver. Toolbox has announced today the release of a new Makita twin pack special offer deal. The Makita LCT204W combines a
30/10/2009
John Sisk & Son Ltd (Sisk), one of the largest construction groups in the UK and Ireland, has been selected to perform major refurbishment and extension works at 3 leisure centres, providing state of the art facilities for residents of the London Borough of Hounslow. The £15 million contract is par
29/10/2009
Two businesses and a company director have been fined after workers in Manchester were exposed to potentially deadly asbestos fibres. The prosecution by the Health and Safety Executive (HSE) comes just days before the launch of a national £1.2 million campaign to increase awareness about asbestos a
29/10/2009
Private sector-led plans for redeveloping the central Danebury Avenue area of Roehampton, will be redesigned to take account of the recession, councillors will be told next week. The proposals for new homes, shops and community facilities had been drawn up for the council by property market experts
29/10/2009
A consortium of GDF SUEZ SA, Iberdrola SA and Scottish and Southern Energy Plc has secured an option to purchase land for the development of a new nuclear power station at Sellafield. Following the sale run by the Nuclear Decommissioning Authority (NDA), the consortium set out plans to build up t
29/10/2009
The September data from Land Registry's House Price Index shows a rising market with a monthly house price change of 0.9% up from half a per cent in August. The annual drop of 5.6%, up from a low of minus 16.3%in February, takes the average house price in England and Wales to £158,377. London exp
29/10/2009
Londoners must not miss out on community improvements such as new health clinics or sports centres under the government's proposals for a new planning levy says London Councils. Under the proposals, boroughs will have the option of introducing a Community Infrastructure Levy (CIL) - a charge that c
29/10/2009
Valleys to Coast Housing (V2C), Bridgend County Borough Council and Lovell are giving local people a helping hand on to the property ladder at the Lovell housing development at Cwrt Pant yr Awel in Lewistown, near Bridgend. Thanks to Welsh Assembly government funding secured by Bridgend County Boro
29/10/2009
To mark Cadw's 25th Anniversary date, the Heritage Minister, Alun Ffred Jones has announced that more than £600,000 is to be shared amongst 13 of Wales' most important historic buildings. The Welsh Assembly Government grants, ranging from £4,444 to £140,000, have been offered to carry out essentia
29/10/2009
Youngsters at Portsmouth Grammar School joined Kier Southern and local historian Bob Hind to celebrate the start of work on the school’s cutting edge new science facility. The Year 7 pupils created a unique record of life in 2009 by participating in a ‘Fill the Time Capsule’ competition which was o
29/10/2009
Plumbworld, the UK's largest online bathroom retailer, has today launched a new range of Triton Showers at Special Offer Prices. Plumbworld have today announced that they are slashing its prices on the new range of Triton Showers in a ghoulishly tasty Halloween special offer! There are several to
28/10/2009
Centrica, the parent company of British Gas, today announced that its 270 megawatt (MW) Lincs offshore wind project has received final investment approval, and construction is expected to begin in 2010. Lincs will be situated eight kilometres off the coast of Skegness next to Centrica's existing wi
28/10/2009
Workers and their unions will make yet another attempt to persuade government to overturn a two-year old ruling by the Law Lords which ended compensation to workers suffering from work-induced asbestos diseases. Unite, the UK's biggest union, which has many members suffering from asbestos-related i
28/10/2009
Spending on construction significantly benefits the UK economy, according to independent research by L.E.K. Consulting. Commissioned by the construction industry body, UK Contractors Group (UKCG), in partnership with the CBI, the report, Construction in the UK economy: The Benefits of Investment, s
28/10/2009
The latest employment and skills figures published by the Olympic Delivery Authority (ODA) shows that 4,842 people are currently working on the Olympic Park construction site. For the first time, the Olympic Village project is included in the ODA's quarterly 'Job, Skills, Futures' update bringing t
28/10/2009
The Chartered Institute of Housing (CIH) has warned that diversion and delay of public funding means that social housing tenants and vulnerable private tenants could fail to see their homes modernised to meet the required decent homes standard by 2010. CIH Chief Executive Sarah Webb and Director of
28/10/2009
A new campaign is being launched in Parliament to persuade the Government to put climate change at the heart of the English planning system. A cross-sector coalition of organisations – including leading planners and countryside and environmental organisations - has drawn up draft planning guidance
28/10/2009
Conservative Party housing proposals to increase the number of new homes whilst simultaneously giving local people more say as to where and if these homes are to be built are an act of faith, warns the Federation of Master Builders (FMB). Responding to the housing announcement from Grant Shapps MP,
28/10/2009
Leading builder, Rok has won a contract to maintain thousands of council homes in St Albans. The company will carry out routine maintenance work at more than 3,460 homes managed by St Albans City and District Council, and provide an emergency call out service. As part of the eight-year framework,
28/10/2009
Around 2,800 apprenticeships and Local Labour Initiatives could be created through the Homes and Communitiues Agency's (HCA) investment in new and affordable homes over the next two years. Up to 1300 could be created predominantly through the Agency's Kickstart and Local Authority New Build Program
28/10/2009
A London-based plumber has been fined following the death of a labourer in Essex. The Health and Safety Executive (HSE) brought the case after Ajet Krasniqi, 24, died when he was hit on the head by a reinforced steel joist in Buckhurst Hill, Essex. His employer, Leonard Gibson of Old Park Ridings,
28/10/2009
A new IPAF training course, Push Around Vertical (PAV), will be offered by Kingfisher Access from January 2010. IPAF has introduced this course in response to market developments and the need for appropriate training on this new type of machine. Push Around Verticals are essentially small, uncompl
27/10/2009
Tottenham Hotspur Football Club today confirmed that the Northumberland Development Project planning application has this week been submitted to the London Borough of Haringey. The move marks a major milestone in the delivery of the Club's regeneration proposals and the final plans include one furt
27/10/2009
The Olympic Park Primary Electrical Substation has been completed and will start supplying electricity next month. The Substation is located in Kings Yard in the west of the Park. It will distribute electricity across the Park site using newly-installed electrical networks consisting of more than 1
27/10/2009
The Serious Fraud Office (SFO) has obtained a Civil Recovery Order of almost £5 million against AMEC, an international engineering and project management firm. AMEC made a referral to the SFO in March 2008 following an internal investigation into the receipt of irregular payments. The payments, wh
27/10/2009
Camp Hill's Bluebell development has taken a huge step forward as Barratt Mercia and Nuneaton and Bedworth Borough Council, supported by the Homes and Communities Agency (HCA), formally signed the development agreement. This is a crucial stage in completing Pride in Camp Hill's vision for the area
27/10/2009
Lovell has appointed Steve Kirk as Managing Director of the company's national housing maintenance business - Lovell Respond. Steve joins from housing maintenance company HomeServe where he was National Contracts Director for HomeServe Emergency Services. In his new role, Steve will drive the cont
27/10/2009
More than £7.5 million Welsh Assembly Government funding will be invested in a project that will pave the way for a major re-development of Bronglais Hospital, Aberystwyth, Health Minister Edwina Hart has announced. The funding will be used to demolish old workshops and stores at the hospital, the
27/10/2009
Overhead power lines in an area of Derby are coming down as part of a £500,000 scheme by Central Networks, the electricity distribution company for central England. Castle Donington-based Central Networks is beginning the 12-week project from Monday 2nd November, which will see overhead power lines
27/10/2009
New financial help for first-time house buyers is being made available through Bristol City Council in partnership with Wessex Home Improvement Loans. The aim of the move is to provide help for renovating properties to people who are seeking to get on the first step of the property ladder. This ne
27/10/2009
A new £7 million residential and community care centre due to be finished early next year will have a bright future thanks to local school pupils. The new Derbyshire County Council centre is being built in Middlecroft, Staveley, and construction work is set to be finished by next February. It is h
26/10/2009
An extraordinary feat of engineering on the Docklands Light Railway (DLR) has effectively moved a whole station without any disruption to passengers. South Quay station closed on Friday evening and a state-of-the-art replacement opened this morning 125 metres away, after being tested over the weeke
26/10/2009
Latest house building statistics from National House Building Council (NHBC) reveal further indications of recovery throughout the UK. During the three months from July to September 2009, NHBC received 24,136 applications to build new homes in the UK - an increase of 4% on the same period last year
26/10/2009
Simon Machen has been appointed as Peterborough City Council's new Head of Planning Services. Simon (41) joined the authority from East Lindsey District Council where he was the Business Manager for Planning Services. He brings with him 20 years of experience of planning services, having also worke
26/10/2009
Lambeth's contribution to architectural and design excellence has been recognised by the prestigious Civic Trust Award - six borough based schemes have been nominated for an award in their 2010 competition. The Lambeth nominated schemes are a mixed bag. There are examples of new build schemes as we
26/10/2009
Build Up, the University of Westminster's initiative to support the upskilling and reemployment prospects for property professionals who have been made redundant, is expanding. Supported by the Royal Institute of Chartered Surveyors (RICS), the Build Up programme offers around 1,500 places for free
26/10/2009
Labour Prime Minister, Gordon Brown, has said that countries must work together to get a deal on climate change at December's UN summit in Copenhagen. Speaking at the Major Economies Forum, Gordon Brown called on world leaders to attend the summit - stating that there was "no Plan B" and that "bus
26/10/2009
Construction has started on the Basketball Arena - the largest temporary venue built for any Olympic or Paralympic Games. During the Games, the Arena will have 12,000 seats for the Basketball preliminaries and quarter-finals, as well as Handball semi-finals and finals, and 10,000 seats for Wheelcha
26/10/2009
Philip Rowley has been appointed as BAM Construct UK's Director of Health and Safety with immediate effect following the retirement of Frank Garnett. His role covers all the UK construction activities as well as BAM’s other businesses such as facilities management and property. Philip will succeed
26/10/2009
A father and son-owned engineering company in Devon have been fined at total of £85,000 after pleading guilty to health and safety offences following an explosion that killed an employee. The Health and Safety Executive (HSE) brought the case after breaches by R J Bateman (Engineering) Limited, of
23/10/2009
More effective targeting of HSE inspections on building sites is the better way forward to reduce the number of accidents and deaths in the construction sector, warns the Federation of Master Builders (FMB) in response to Conservative Party plans to allow construction companies to arrange their own
23/10/2009
Seven suppliers have been invited to compete for inclusion on a framework which will allow firms to bid for contracts to design, build and run new prisons by the Ministry of Justice. On the 4 August 2009, the National Offender Management Service (NOMS) launched a competition via the Official Journa
23/10/2009
Construction has begun on the Basketball Arena as Shona Robison MSP, Minister for Public Health and Sport in Scotland, visited the Olympic Park with the Chairman of the Olympic Delivery Authority (ODA), John Armitt. The Basketball Arena will play a key role during the Olympic Games, with 12,000 sea
23/10/2009
Liverpool has secured a £2 million grant to accelerate regeneration in Anfield and Breckfield. The city's executive board has agreed to accept the £2 million grant from the Homes and Communities Agency (HCA), which will be added to the council's £2.6 million Housing Market Renewal budget to help re
23/10/2009
Shelter has launched a new report that shows Local Housing Allowance (LHA) has caused more than a quarter of claimants to fall behind on their rent payments. The LHA system was set up to give private sector tenants more choice by paying rent money directly into their bank accounts rather than direc
23/10/2009
A leading company that supplies and fits upvc doors and composite doors across Bedfordshire, Buckinghamshire and Northamptonshire has launched a new website. A spokesman for Simply Doors in Bedford said: "Simply doors are proud to announce their new website, which allows customers to browse the arr
23/10/2009
A Norwich employer has been fined £7,500 after one of his workers broke his spine in a fall at the former RAF Watton site in Norfolk. The Health and Safety Executive (HSE) prosecuted Tim Philpott, trading as Philpott Demolition and Recycling, of Spinney Close, Long Stratton, Norwich, for his role i
23/10/2009
Interserve, the services, maintenance and building group has completed, on behalf of the Highways Agency, the final stage of the A1 Peterborough to Blyth Junction Improvement scheme, which is being officially opened on Tuesday 20 October 2009. The A1 Trunk Road is a north-south regional route of st
23/10/2009
Timber merchant Meerdink (UK) Ltd has recently launched a new type of composite decking in the UK market. Meerdink UK is a major supplier of Ekki, Opepe and FSC (Forest Stewardship Council) timbers, suitable for marine and heavy construction work, including wharfs, bridges, decking, river pilings,
23/10/2009
Around 30 MPs, including three former Housing Ministers, yesterday attended the Parliamentary launch of the Federation's election manifesto, The Tools For Success. The event, hosted by Federation Chair Matthew Taylor, and Chief Executive David Orr, was attended by MPs from each of the three major p
23/10/2009
Szerelmey Restoration Limited, the specialist in restoration and conservation of buildings has completed a £152,000 cleaning and restoration contract of 16-26 Gordon Square a Grade 2 listed building at University College London, Gordon Square, WC1, transforming it back to its original line and detai
22/10/2009
Latest government figures on fuel poverty published today show that fuel poverty in the UK is on the increase. In 2007, there were around 4m fuel poor households in the UK, up from 3.5m in 2006. Councils want to build on the example of Kirklees Council which has offered to insulate every house in
22/10/2009
A £200m expansion plan by one of the UK's best known film studios has been rejected by planners. The application by Pinewood Studios to build a 100-acre set on a green belt in Buckinghamshire has been turned down. Pinewood Shepperton's £200m plans included up to 1,500 homes - a mix of apartments a
22/10/2009
The Shadow Housing Minister, Grant Shapps, will today announce proposed changes to the Local Housing Allowance aimed at increasing the supply of housing and helping the most vulnerable tenants. Mr Shapps explained that, under a Conservative government, tenants will be able to choose to have their h
22/10/2009
The Infrastructure Planning Commission (IPC) today announced the first major infrastructure projects that it expects to receive as applications. Five major wind farms and two new nuclear power stations are included on the list, as well as a biomass power plant, and two national grid connection pro
22/10/2009
A group of Labour MPs have agreed to work with construction union UCATT to pressurise the Government to strengthen the draft regulations designed to outlaw blacklisting. The MPs agreed to take this action at the parliamentary launched on Tuesday of Ruined Lives, an academic report which reveals tha
22/10/2009
Hard pressed British communities are set to benefit from a multi-million pound energy efficiency programme. The first wave of projects, led by British Gas, will help thousands of people on low incomes cut their energy use and lower their fuel bills. British Gas has signed agreements with ten commu
22/10/2009
Affordable housing and tackling homelessness remain spending priorities for the Welsh Assembly Government, said Deputy Minister for Housing, Jocelyn Davies AM. Spending plans show a year-on-year increase in funding of £6million to £157million in 2010-11. An extra £1million for 2010-11 has been all
22/10/2009
Gardiners Reclaimed Building Materials, offer a wide range of reclaimed building products that can be delivered directly to your door. Gardiners are specialists stockists of reclaimed building materials and stock many more items than we have displayed on their website including garden ornaments & a
22/10/2009
Masefields Architects and Surveyors (
22/10/2009
Barrett Kent, the firm which sources specialist material, textures, fixtures, fittings provide drawings and deals with all the relevant authorities for planning permissions and building regulations, has announced they will be exhibiting at the innovative Northern Homebuilding & Renovating Show, Harr
22/10/2009
Look in any glossy, interior design magazine or watch any television programme to do with new homes and you will notice that the majority of kitchens and bathrooms will be lit with recessed down-lighters. Giving an efficient and smart, no-nonsense style, down-lighters provide a good overall light ou
22/10/2009
Display Lighting Ltd has expanded its highly popular Spectrum spotlight range to include the SPECTRUM LED PRO Spotlight. Each Spectrum LED Pro spotlight has a sleek design and a multi-directional head that perfectly encapsulates a high power Luxeon LED with a 50,000 hour life. These cool- running L
21/10/2009
One of Britain's biggest airports has been sold. After the Competition Commission ruled in March that the company would have to sell the airport within two years, BAA said today it has agreed the sale of Gatwick Airport in a deal worth £1.51bn. The airport will be sold to Global Infrastructure Par
21/10/2009
Lovell is set to build a £4.23 million housing development on behalf of Midland Heart in Winson Green, Birmingham. The development on Bacchus Road will consist of 18 two-bedroom apartments and 23 two, three and four-bedroom houses. The scheme is the first to be awarded to Lovell following the comp
21/10/2009
The Government has taken action and introduced the four next steps to help low income homes deal with high energy bills, as the latest fuel poverty statistics are published. In 2007, there were around 4m fuel poor households in the UK, up from 3.5m in 2006. In England, there were around 2.8m fuel
21/10/2009
The Olympic Delivery Authority (ODA) has re-launched a health and safety educational programme for thousands of children living near the Olympic Park site, as a site-wide safety campaign is launched for Olympic Park workers to mark European Week for Safety and Health at Work. Following the success
21/10/2009
Bristol's Housing Chief has launched a drive aimed at cutting unnecessary floodlighting and he is calling on the public to help identify possible targets. Councillor Mark Wright, Cabinet Member for Housing and Service Improvement, said he was appealing for people living and working in Bristol who s
21/10/2009
The Minister for Finance and Public Service Delivery, Andrew Davies, has announced almost £120 million capital investment for 2010/11 to build new homes, provide better schools and hospitals and safeguard jobs. Allocations have been agreed for sums up to £118.3 million from the Welsh Assembly Gover
21/10/2009
Work has started work on a new special educational needs primary school in Gainsborough for 96 pupils aged between 2 and 11. Kier Northern began the contract as a turf cutting ceremony marked the start of work on site for the new Warren Wood Community School at Middlefield Lane, Gainsborough on Mon
21/10/2009
Glenvale Kitchens - who are based in the small border town of Keady - have won the National KBB Industry Awards. It was a design created by Darren Morgan, one of the Glenvale team, that secured Glenvale Kitchens the National Recognition that they have long deserved and won Darren the prestigious t
21/10/2009
Work has begun on landmark business units aimed specifically at small businesses. The Knowlhill Business Parc, on a site acquired from Milton Keynes Partnership, has been conceived to provide small businesses with a high quality environment. The flexible 800 – 5,000 sq ft architecturally designed
21/10/2009
Melbourne-based Washers & Stamped Components Australia Pty Ltd (WASCA) manufactures a substantially diverse range of washers, fasteners and stamped, formed and bent components from an extensive range of steel, nonferrous metals, vulcanised fibres, rubber and thermoplastic materials. WASCA also off
21/10/2009
At the Hazlemere Group pride ourselves on our no hassle, no pressure approach to providing high quality home improvement products to the thousands of customers who have put their trust in us during the last 25 years. It is our experience that the last thing our customers want is a high pressure sal
20/10/2009
Partnerships for Schools (PfS) has announced the 15 companies which have secured a place on the £4 billion framework to procure the design and build of Academies and other educational facilities in local authorities. £500m worth of contracts are expected to start procurement using the new Contract
20/10/2009
Gross mortgage lending totalled an estimated £12.5 billion in September, a 2% rise from the £12.3 billion in August - but down 27% from September 2008 - according to new data from the Council of Mortgage Lenders (CML). Gross lending in the third quarter of 2009 was an estimated £38.9 billion, an 18
20/10/2009
Housing Minister and Minister for the West Midlands Ian Austin MP has welcomed the news that the West Midlands is the biggest recipient of government funding to kickstart stalled construction sites, with 1,000 of the country’s 2,400 new homes so far approved coming from this region. The praise come
20/10/2009
The Welsh Assembly government has announced an extra £5 million to help small businesses and the public sector become more energy efficient and lower their carbon emissions. The funding has been awarded to the Carbon Trust in Wales to support the 'invest-to-save' programme that provides interest fr
20/10/2009
Balfour Beatty, the international engineering, construction, services and investment group, has announced that it has won £274 million of new contracts in the US states of Virginia, South Carolina, Georgia, Texas and North Carolina. In Virginia, Heery International has been awarded its second Unite
20/10/2009
A school in east Manchester which has taken its design inspiration from pupils is now being built by a number of local people. Park View Community School in Miles Platting, is set to open in September 2010 replacing the former Park View Primary School. There are currently 32 bricklayers, builders,
20/10/2009
The first new Docklands Light Railway (DLR) carriage part-funded by the Olympic Delivery Authority (ODA) has been delivered to Stratford station. The ODA and Transport for London (TfL) contributed £20m each for 22 new carriages in preparation for increased DLR services during the London 2012 Olympi
20/10/2009
Control Lighting Ltd provide innovative and artistic lighting for town performance space. At the heart of Workington town centre's shopping malls and hovering in mid-air like a space ship, you will find The Workington Hub. The Hub is an overhead dome-shaped canopy with futuristic lighting and sta
20/10/2009
The most common application for a Radiator Guard is to protect the vulnerable that come into contact with it, from burning themselves. In some specially challenging situations it is the other way around - it is the radiator that needs protecting! To stop the radiator from being used as a jumping
20/10/2009
Smart Platform Rental Ltd goes from strength to strength as it continues to grow its fleet, with the welcome addition of the first Z19 truck mounted cherry pickers in the UK; available from their Midlands and recently opened Hemel Hempstead branches. "Many rental companies are freezing their capex
19/10/2009
The Mayor of London Boris Johnson and The London Development Agency (LDA) have announced plans to invest in green spaces in East London as part of a drive to speed up the establishment of the East London Green Grid. The East London Green Grid is an award winning plan to use green infrastructure a
19/10/2009
The Health and Safety Executive (HSE) is urging employers to ensure their workers are protected when working at height after a man fell from the first floor of a building he was working on, suffering life-threatening injuries. The man was using a power saw at Barnfields Industrial Estate in Leek, S
19/10/2009
Formal planning permission has been issued for the redevelopment of Anglia Square. Norwich City Council’s planning committee approved a scheme for a comprehensive regeneration of Anglia Square for mixed use development in December 2008. However, permission could not be formally issued until legal
19/10/2009
The Financial Services Authority (FSA) today set out proposals for the major reforms required in the UK mortgage market to ensure that it works better for consumers and is sustainable for all market participants. The proposals, published in the mortgage market review discussion paper, reflect the F
19/10/2009
Plans for the creation of Doncaster's Civic and Cultural Quarter (CCQ) are one step closer to becoming reality with the announcement that the project's outline planning application, subject to rubber-stamping by the Government Office, was granted by the Planning Authority. Doncaster Council's Cabin
19/10/2009
New legislation that may force residential landlords in Britain to take responsibility for water bills that their tenants failed to pay is causing concern and many in the buy-to-let sector are planning to oppose these plans. If current proposals pass, landlords may find themselves saddled with as
19/10/2009
Biometric hand and iris scanners have been installed for workers to access the Olympic Park construction site as part of planned measures to enhance safety and security as the 'big build' accelerates. Work is now underway on all permanent venues in the 2.5 sq km Olympic Park as well as bridges, roa
19/10/2009
Campbell Robb has been appointed Shelter's new Chief Executive. He takes up his appointment on 1 January 2010. Campbell is currently the Director General of the Office of the Third Sector (OTS) in the Cabinet Office. He has been responsible for the creation of the OTS, bringing together a number of
19/10/2009
The St Paul's Cathedral Tercentenary Project was given the accolade of Project of the Year 2009 at the Royal Institute of Chartered Surveyors (RICS) Awards Grand Final. Grand Designs' Kevin McCloud hosted the event at the Honourable Artillery Company in London, in which property projects from acros
19/10/2009
Malcolm Smith Power Cleaning is pleased to announce that the range of Pressure Washers is being expanded to include the Oertzen range of professional pressure washers. OERTZEN leaves no demand unfulfilled taking the range up to 1000 bar machines. This later addition of pressure washers is aimed at
16/10/2009
Since the introduction of a new type of maintenance contract in 2001 by the Highways Agency, there have been some improvements in the quality and delivery to budget of maintenance on England’s motorways and trunk roads. However, according to a report by the National Audit Office (NAO), costs have r
16/10/2009
A specially-commissioned foundation stone has been laid to mark the construction of a Telford primary school which will serve a new 800 home development. The £3.5 million school and housing development at Lightmoor Village is the result of a partnership between Telford & Wrekin Council, the Homes a
16/10/2009
Sisk's Major Projects division has been tasked with the 13 month project to construct the substructure and reinforced concrete work for the five turbine halls together with the associated cooling water pipework and ancillary site services. Work has commenced on site and is part of £1bn invested in
16/10/2009
New technologies and initiatives for homes and businesses in the Thames Gateway to tackle climate change will be tried out in the country's first eco-quarter, Thames Gateway Minister Shahid Malik has announced. The Thames Gateway is designated an eco-region and the eco-quarter will provide the firs
16/10/2009
Scottish construction and civil engineering firm GMR Henderson has taken delivery of a tri-axle centre balance drawbar trailer from Andover Trailers for transporting the company’s heavy plant equipment. The CBDBCL24 has been constructed to a bespoke design including 3.7m long power toe ramps and a
16/10/2009
Results published this week show there is broad support from key stakeholders for the Tenant Services Authority's (TSA) proposed regulatory approach and standards for landlords. Over 700 responses from stakeholders, landlords and tenants were received to the TSA's discussion paper on its draft stan
16/10/2009
A solid wood ceiling from Hunter Douglas projects division has really caught the eye in the newly completed cricket pavilion at the Haberdashers independent school in Monmouth. The project, designed by Manchester based architects Buttress Fuller Alsop Williams, includes a stunning suspended wood c
16/10/2009
Pupils from three Peterborough secondary schools have the chance to influence £80 million development projects thanks to a unique project that aims to inspire creativity in young people. Teams of up to 15 pupils from each of Ormiston Bushfield Academy, Orton Longueville School and Stanground Colleg
16/10/2009
Leading trade paint brand Leyland's eye-catching 'Mad About Colour' campaign stepped up a gear recently when it featured in the final weekend of the British Touring Car Championship at Brands Hatch. Six all-new 'Leyland Lovelies' wasted little time in making their mark with the 'saucy six' - each r
16/10/2009
Harrogate Borough Council has unveiled two new projects aimed at preventing people becoming homeless. The council has set up a repossession prevention loan fund using £57,000 it has received from the Department of Communities and Local Government. This fund will be used to offer small interest fre
16/10/2009
Carpentry apprentice Dalton Hallal from Blacon, Chester, has been named by Lovell as the company's North West Personal Achiever of the Year. The 19-year-old is part of the Lovell team building the Chester Point housing development in Blacon for Chester & District Housing Trust. Lovell recently fin
15/10/2009
Construction firm Costain has announced its order book has increased further to a new level of £2.7 billion, up from £2.5 billion in June. Costain has just been awarded a £297 million contract with Sellafield, an extension to its current 5 year AMP4 framework contract with United Utilities worth £1
15/10/2009
The state of the construction industry for small builders is getting worse, warns the Federation of Master Builders (FMB) in response to data from its latest State of Trades survey of member's workloads for the third quarter of 2009. The workload for the building sector over the last three months a
15/10/2009
The Mayor of London, Boris Johnson, has detailed steps to boost locally generated energy to cut carbon emissions, create green collar jobs and save money off fuel bills. To create an energy revolution, the Mayor has detailed a package of initiatives developed in partnership with the London Developm
15/10/2009
The Chief Executive of the Infrastructure Planning Commission (IPC) was announced as John Saunders. Mr Saunders was awarded an OBE in 1998 for services to British Businesses and is an experienced CEO. He will ensure that the IPC effectively carries out its functions as set out in the Planning Act 2
15/10/2009
A Tipton-based firm has been fined £10,000 for breaching health and safety laws following a worker's fall at a warehouse. The Health and Safety Executive (HSE) prosecuted West Midlands Installations Ltd after one of its employees injured his head and ribs when he fell from a racking storage unit th
15/10/2009
Construction union UCATT are calling for the creation of a full comprehensive crane register in order to improve safety standards. In their submission to the Health and Safety Executive's (HSE) consultation on creating a tower crane register, UCATT argue that the register should be fully comprehens
15/10/2009
A group of MPs have backed a new bill which would make it unlawful for energy companies to rip off their poorest customers. The cross party group of MPs - including Lib Dem Shadow Chancellor Vince Cable - want to outlaw tariffs which hammer low income families who pay their fuel thorough prepayment
15/10/2009
HSS Hire, the national tool and equipment hire company, has secured a three-year contract with leading international facilities services provider OCS. OCS offers a comprehensive range of services including catering, cleaning, hygiene services, security, horticulture, pest control and waste manageme
15/10/2009
The Software Satisfaction Awards 2009 were presented at a ceremony on 8 October at the Royal Courts of Justice in London. Mardak has announced that Mardak Construction Accounts secured 2nd place in both the categories which they were shortlisted in. In the Mid Range Accounting Software category,
15/10/2009
Award winning, Berkshire based construction specialist, BJP Insurance Brokers Ltd, have experience in finding cost-effective solutions for the construction sector. In the current economic climate, lenders remain cautious and sometimes decisions need to be made quickly and supported by the right pr
15/10/2009
Maltings Architectural Reclaim, one of the largest reclamation & salvage yards in London and the South East area offer a large range of items from wood block parquet to beautiful hand carved Portland Stone. All reclaimed items are from prestigious sites and include items of historical interest suc
14/10/2009
In response to the Health and Safety Executives (HSE) consultation document 'Proposals for new regulations requiring the notification of tower cranes operating on construction sites', the Chartered Institute of Building (CIOB) feels little can be achieved by the formation of standalone regulations w
14/10/2009
Support services and construction company Carillion has secured a £25 million gas connections contract for clients United Utilities Networks on behalf of asset owners Northern Gas Networks. The work involves the installation of new services and mains. Carillion Utility Services who will carry out
14/10/2009
Interserve has begun work on the new £77 million Sandwell College campus in West Bromwich following confirmation of funding by the Learning and Skills Council at the end of August. With preparations on site now under way, it is expected that construction will be complete by the autumn of 2011. Sa
14/10/2009
More funds have been released by the Homes and Communities Agency (HCA) in the second wave of schemes to be unlocked through round one of the Kickstart Programme. The announcement was made today by Housing Minister, John Healey, who revealed that a further 2000 new homes will be built on sites tha
14/10/2009
The UK Green Building Council has underlined its serious intent to create a step-change in the sustainability of the built environment by adding three senior-level construction and property industry CEOs to strengthen its statutory board. Bill Bolsover, CEO of Aggregate Industries, John Frankiewicz
14/10/2009
HBF Chairman Stewart Baseley has told Housing Minister John Healey that it was vital support was maintained for housing development in the Pre Budget Report (PBR) and warned Shadow Minister Grant Shapps that Tory localism plans had to be controlled. Mr Shapps and Mr Healey both told the audience of
14/10/2009
A prestigious long-term contract in the North East of England has been awarded to MCL Energy. MCL Energy, one of the UK's leading energy and technical services providers, is supplying and installing replacement steam plant for Renolit Ltd based at its Cramlington (UK) manufacturing site. Renolit ma
14/10/2009
Building Schools for the Future (BSF) projects from local authorities across England have been shortlisted for this year's Excellence in BSF Awards celebrating achievement across all areas of the national programme which will help improve the life chances of 3.3m young people a year. Expert judges,
14/10/2009
This Saturday, 17 October, Malcolm Harrison will be holding its latest auction, "The Great London Autumn Plant & Demolition Auction" at London Exports, Langston Road, Loughton, Essex. Established in 1975, Malcolm Harrison is a family owned Commercial Vehicles & Plant trading company working within
14/10/2009
The flow of construction projects starting on site in September 2009 stabilised to 4% below levels seen a year ago. This is the third month running that the year on year decline has been stable at 4%. This is a significant improvement compared to the 21% average year on year decline seen between S
14/10/2009
Lovell is helping two young men to start their careers in the construction industry by taking them on as apprentices. The company has recruited Kyle Farr and Casey Clarke to its national apprentice training programme. Kyle, who lives in Norwich city centre, has joined Lovell as a trainee carpenter,
14/10/2009
A new CE marked and FSC certified, high strength engineered timber option for loadbearing applications in housing, commercial and industrial constructions is now available in the UK from Steico Limited. Steicoultralam laminated veneer lumber (LVL) is CE certified to EN 14374 standards and is being
13/10/2009
A lack of supply is still underpinning the house price recovery, says the Royal Institute of Chartered Surveyors (RICS) September housing market survey. Significantly, the headline RICS house price balance recorded the highest figure since the onset of the credit crunch. The net balance of Charter
13/10/2009
Responding to the announcement from UK airports operator, BAA, that it is to suspend its planning application to build a third runway at Heathrow, Unite, the largest union in aviation, has denounced the move as confusing and damaging for UK business. Unite has also decried Conservative party effort
13/10/2009
A new report on regenerating large housing estates to be published on 20 October 2009 highlights the importance of tackling the multiple sources of deprivation over the long term, as well as improving homes and the physical environment. Transforming estates, a research report from ECOTEC and the C
13/10/2009
Skanska has secured an assignment to construct a railway viaduct in London for Network Rail. The contract amounts to £59 million, which will be included in Skanska's order bookings for the third quarter. The project pertains to a 400-meter long viaduct over the Borough Market food market in south
13/10/2009
A Herefordshire builders' merchant has been prosecuted after a worker had his hand pulled in to a machine and nailed to a pallet. Pontrilas Timber & Builders' Merchants Ltd of Pontrilas, Herefordshire, was fined £3,500 and ordered to pay £8,973 costs at Hereford Magistrates Court. The company had
13/10/2009
A Carillion-telent joint venture has signed a 7-year contract to provide nationwide support services for Openreach, BT's local access network business. Under the contract, which follows a letter of intent signed in August this year, the joint venture will deliver a range of engineering, support and
13/10/2009
Plans for a £37 million Bioscience Campus in Stevenage, Hertfordshire - funded in partnership by the government, GlaxoSmithKline, The Wellcome Trust, Technology Strategy Board and East of England Development Agency - will be announced today by Business, Innovation and Skills Secretary, Lord Mandels
13/10/2009
McGee Group has recently been awarded the £6.7m, 46-week Structural Alteration Package on the Heritage listed, Western Range Building at Kings Cross Station. The works comprise all asbestos removal, salvage and soft strip, temporary works design and installation, structural alteration and installa
13/10/2009
New images released by the Olympic Delivery Authority (ODA) today show the construction of the London 2012 Velodrome racing ahead with work well underway on the structural steelwork that will help form the distinct double-curved shape of the venue. The 6,000 seat Velodrome will host the Olympic and
13/10/2009
Kier Building Maintenance (KBM) has appointed Rob Leitch as Regional Director for its London operations. Rob joins KBM with a wealth of experience, most recently from Rok where he was Regional Leader for London and the South East for two years. Previously, he was at Morgan Ashurst for six years and
13/10/2009
When Network Rail needed waterproof joints for Kings Cross Station, they were pleased to receive the Expansion Joints Ltd (EJL) service. A Trelleborg full elastomeric bonded product was put forward for the project – more usually associated with highways, car parks, etc... but in this instance it c
12/10/2009
The mortgage market is on two speed settings, as house purchase lending continues to recover but remortgaging continues to decline, according to the latest data released by the Council of Mortgage Lenders (CML). The number of house purchase loans in August (53,000) is down 5% from July but 29% high
12/10/2009
Construction union UCATT are calling for the creation of a fully comprehensive crane register in order to improve safety standards. In their submission to the Health and Safety Executive's (HSE) consultation on creating a tower crane register, UCATT argue that the register should be fully comprehen
12/10/2009
Carillion has entered into an agreement for the sale of its environmental consultancy business, Enviros, to engineering, sciences and project delivery firm, Sinclair Knight Merz, for a net cash consideration of some £27 million, subject to completion balance sheet adjustments. Carillion will use th
12/10/2009
Keller Group, the international ground engineering specialist, has entered into an agreement to purchase Resource Holdings Limited, a Singapore-based foundation contractor, for an initial cash payment of £30.6 million, including an estimated £2 million of acquired net debt, plus further payments bas
12/10/2009
A new 25-metre swimming pool, sports hall and University teaching facilities are included in exciting development proposals for The Sands Centre, Carlisle, estimated to cost around £15million. A partnership of Carlisle City Council, the University of Cumbria and Carlisle Leisure Limited has drawn t
12/10/2009
Construction work is underway to deliver enhanced Rowing and Canoe Sprint facilities for the London 2012 Games, the Olympic Delivery Authority (ODA) has announced. The Rowing and Canoe Sprint events during the London 2012 Olympic and Paralympic Games will take place at the Eton College Rowing Centr
12/10/2009
Land redevelopment opportunities, including new homes, in London are set to be transformed, thanks to a new freely available online tool, launched by the London Development Agency (LDA) and the Homes and Communities Agency (HCA). Open to all, the London Brownfield Sites Database is the country's mo
12/10/2009
Construction trainees from across the UK battled it out last week to be crowned Britain's best young tradesperson in the national final of the UK's biggest skills competition, SkillBuild, which is organised by ConstructionSkills, the Sector Skills Council for the industry. The three day event, held
12/10/2009
Szerelmey Restoration Limited, the specialist in restoration and conservation of buildings has completed the cleaning and restoration of seven buildings including two Victorian warehouses in a 150 million mixed use urban regeneration scheme that has transformed the docklands of Gloucester Quays. Sz
09/10/2009
A new, online purchase facility is boosting business for a Carlisle-based household handles supplier. Household Handles - one of the UK's leading suppliers to developers and to kitchen, bathroom and bedroom manufacturers - is enjoying an upsurge in enquiries from trade customers thanks to the new ad
09/10/2009
Energy regulator Ofgem has today highlighted the challenges to Britain's gas and electricity supplies. Ofgem has drawn up four energy scenarios to assess the energy security risks over the next 10-15 years. They reveal a range of potential risks to supplies when exposed to shocks. Further, Ofgem
09/10/2009
Work has started to lift the first sections of the London 2012 Velodrome roof structure into place. In total, more than 2,500 sections of steelwork will be installed to construct the roof and upper tiers. The distinct design of the roof has two curves to reflect the geometry of the cycling track.
09/10/2009
The Cambridgeshire and Greater Peterborough Centres held a seminar on the subject of which was 'Building Control and the HSE working in Partnership to improve safety in Construction'. The speakers were Kevin Dawson, Building Control Manager, Peterborough City Council and Peter Galsworthy, Principal
09/10/2009
UK Trade & Investment (UKTI) is encouraging British construction companies to take advantage of multibillion pound infrastructure opportunities in Turkey, Europe's sixth biggest economy. The UKTI released new research, 'Building Turkey: Opportunities for the UK Construction Sector' which identifies
09/10/2009
A huge package of town centre and wider regeneration improvements amounting to nearly £1m will be delivered in Bognor Regis as a result of Sainsbury's opening in the town. Arun District Council's Development Control Committee resolved to give the superstore planning permission to build on the for
09/10/2009
Housing Minister John Healey has launched an intensive drive to help struggling homeowners in 'repossession hotspots' get a grip on their finances and save their homes. Twenty-two hotspot areas are being targeted as having a higher risk of repossessions, due to high levels of unemployment and numbe
09/10/2009
Public funding has been secured and a development agreement has been signed to deliver the first phase of affordable housing at King's Cross Central, one of the most significant development and regeneration projects in Europe. The £42 million public funding package from the Homes and Communities
09/10/2009
Older and vulnerable residents will benefit in a new energy saving project by Barnet Homes to make communal heating systems greener and more environmentally friendly. The new insulation project will save energy equivalent to lighting 1,200,000 million 60 watt light bulbs, as well as saving resident
09/10/2009
Adopting the latest methods of refurbishing houses could put Isos Housing Group right at the heart of the UK's efforts to cut greenhouse gases. Isos has won a contract from the Government;s Technology Strategy Board (TSB) to come up with an in-depth scheme to refit one of its houses with energy eff
08/10/2009
Energy firm E.on has postponed plans to build a new coal power station in Kent. The company's plans to build the power station in Kingsnorth have been put on hold because people are using less electricity due to the recession. An E.on spokesperson confirmed the decision and said the plans are expe
08/10/2009
Housebuilders remain reluctant to bring forward new projects for development, despite the stabilisation in house prices recorded by the Nationwide and Halifax. New information from Glenigan - which combines data gathering and research with statistical modelling and analysis - has revealed that the
08/10/2009
The Secretary of State for Business, Innovation and Skills has this week begun the search for a new Chair for the Industry Training Board for construction – CITB-ConstructionSkills. The current Chairman, Sir Michael Latham, author of the 1994 Latham Report is due to retire in March next year afte
08/10/2009
Two companies have been prosecuted after workers and members of the public were exposed to unacceptable levels of asbestos during a removal project. The Health and Safety Executive (HSE) took the companies to court, on the 6 October 2009, after an unlicensed contractor carried out the specialist wo
08/10/2009
Kier Education has been announced preferred bidder by Bolton Council for the Essa Academy and Bolton St Catherine's Academy and Firwood School contract, with a combined value of £51m. The project, which has been procured through Partnerships for Schools National Framework, will see complete rebuild
08/10/2009
Students at City of London Academy-Islington will now be travelling to off-campus activities in a brand new minibus. It's all thanks to a financial boost from the City of London Corporation and Galliford Try - the firm undertaking the construction of the academy's new building. The new 16-seater m
08/10/2009
A long-established chemicals specialist is helping to curb the spread of swine flu. With over 25 years experience in the cleaning chemicals industry - supplying a wide range of proven and highly effective products - Marken chemicals aims to provide the most effective products available for specific
08/10/2009
United Parts are now the latest addition to the build website helping both existing clients and new customers searching for both new and used parts for most types of construction machinery. "By using United Parts, customers can be sure of paying a fraction of the cost of replacing a part for new wi
08/10/2009
Window and Door Manufacturer, Lister Trade Frames of Stoke on Trent, have won yet another prize at this year's National Glass and Glazing Awards held at Wembley Stadium. The annual G-Awards event attracts manufacturers, suppliers and installers from across Great Britain, who compete to be recognise
07/10/2009
Construction union UCATT have revealed that attempts by employers to describe the proposed extension of the Gangmasters Licensing Act to construction as adding "a lot of cost for contractors" is without foundation. A growing number of organisations including Oxfam and the Home Affairs Select Commit
07/10/2009
A vision to bring thousands of new homes and jobs to residents in one of the most deprived parts of the borough moved a step closer this week. Hammersmith & Fulham Council bosses have agreed to work with other landowners in Earls Court to potentially bring about what could be one of the biggest reg
07/10/2009
The National Housing Federation has responded to a raft of proposals by Shadow Housing Minister Grant Shapps, at the Conservative party conference in Manchester. Commenting on the proposal to enable tenants to demand that their housing association sell their current property and use the proceeds, m
07/10/2009
Manchester residents are being invited to an exhibition to see proposals for a landmark scheme to help revitalise Fallowfield Triangle and bring more jobs to the area. Great Placing Housing Group and supermarket chain Aldi will be submitting a planning application to Manchester City Council next we
07/10/2009
Banbury Canalside regeneration moved a step closer when Cherwell District Council considered draft proposals for the Canalside area. The proposals are set out in a draft 'Supplementary Planning Document' (SPD), which will shortly go out for public consultation. The document seeks to promote and ma
07/10/2009
Wates Group has announced the appointment of Dave Smith to the Group Board. Dave's Group Board appointment is in addition to his role as Group Chief Operating Officer and Managing Director of Construction. Dave started at Wates as a Quantity Surveyor 24 years ago. He has held a variety of busine
07/10/2009
Kier London has started work on a £28m mental health unit at Goodmayes Hospital, Barley Lane, for client North East London Foundation Trust (NELFT). The new facility, which will feature a new detox unit and inpatient facilities that replace the former ones at Mascalls Park, Brentwood, had its offic
07/10/2009
The final details of the Government's scheme to save organisations money on fuel bills and to reduce carbon emissions have been unveiled by the Department of Energy and Climate Change. The Carbon Reduction Commitment Energy Efficiency Scheme is a new regulatory incentive to improve energy efficienc
07/10/2009
Jonathan Berney Property Consultants and Surveyors have been voted constantly by the property industry in the top 500 firms of Surveyors in the UK. The practice of Jonathan Berney Consultant Surveyors and Valuers can trace its roots back to 1955 when Henry Berney first opened his doors at 87 Regent
07/10/2009
Toolbox, the UK's fastest growing online tool retailer has today announced the launch of some new Hot Draper Deals. Toolbox have announced today that they are offering a new
06/10/2009
The Homes and Communities Agency (HCA) has confirmed its commitment to flexible grant rates in delivering the government's Mortgage Rescue scheme, and called for more housing associations to join the pool of those already offering help to struggling homeowners facing the threat of repossession durin
06/10/2009
Unite, the biggest union in construction, has announced that engineering construction workers at power stations and other sites across the UK have rejected an offer on pay and conditions from employers in the engineering construction industry. Unite's Assistant General Secretary, Les Bayliss, said:
06/10/2009
Bovis Lendlease, Galliford Try and Willmott Dison have been selected to go through to the next stage of tendering for Wandsworth's £300m Building Schools for the Future (BSF) programme. BSF will see major investment in all 16 borough secondary and secondary special schools, with extensive remodelli
06/10/2009
Balfour Beatty, the international engineering, construction, investment and services group, has announced that it has been appointed as preferred bidder by Blackburn with Darwen and Bolton Councils for their £450 million PPP Building Schools for the Future (BSF) programme. The 25-year concession in
06/10/2009
Much-needed housing and other redevelopment opportunities in London are to go 'online'. Much of the capital's under-utilised former industrial sites are set to be transformed, thanks to a new freely available online tool. It was launched this week by the London Development Agency (LDA) and the Hom
06/10/2009
Inspace has agreed a £20 million contract with Old Ford Housing Association, part of leading affordable housing provider Circle Anglia, for phase one of the £80 million regeneration of the Mardyke estate in Rainham. Mardyke estate's entire regeneration involves replacing 516 homes with up to 555 ho
06/10/2009
A £10 million 'money tree' designed to transform estates and neighbourhoods throughout Plymouth has been launched. City residents whose council homes will shortly transfer to Plymouth Community Homes (PCH) are being invited to bid for a share of the Money Tree Fund which will be handing out £2 mill
06/10/2009
MH Equipment have announced the first ABF breaker in the UK. The ABF (anti blank fire) system was retrofitted to an Indeco 4000 hydraulic breaker in their hire fleet. The ABF is a system that stops the breaker running on, or firing without any weight on the steel. This greatly extends the service
06/10/2009
Council leaders have welcomed the rapid progress of a new 'super green' social housing development being built by Lovell in St Athan, South Wales. The 16 properties are being built by Lovell for Wales & West Housing Association (WWHA) in partnership with the Vale of Glamorgan Council. Anne Hinchey
06/10/2009
Philip Hodgson Bespoke Conservatories & Fine Joinery, based at Malin Bridge in Sheffield, South Yorkshire, has invested in new technology, by installing a state of the art Weinig Variomat 5 head Moulder/Planer. This is a valuable addition to the machinery already installed at the Workshops, and p
06/10/2009
Plumbworld the UK's largest online bathroom retailer has recruited Mark Canfield as their new Commercial Manager. Mark has worked in the retail sector for over 30 years and has a wealth of product knowledge and experience. Mark has a huge amount of experience in the retail sector most recently wo
05/10/2009
Lincolnshire County Council have ruled against a Norton Disney quarry firm and ordered them to pay over £43,000 in costs. Following complaints from local people that C&G Concrete were hauling sands and gravels outside of their permitted hours, including after midnight, Lincolnshire County Council s
05/10/2009
Ian Austin, the Minister for the West Midlands, and Sir Bob Kerslake, Chief Executive of the Homes and Communities Agency (HCA), have announced that over 360 new homes have been commissioned in the last six months to help people in rural communities in the West Midlands access a home. The announcem
05/10/2009
This month's CIPS/Markit Purchasing Managers’ Index shows a further decline in the construction sector amid more positive economic news in other economic data such as house prices. Following on from last month's figure of 47.7, September activity showed a modest drop to 46.6. Input prices continued
05/10/2009
Balfour Beatty, the international engineering, construction, investment and services group, has announced that it has been awarded two education sector contracts totalling £134 million. Balfour Beatty has been awarded the £77 million contract to build new student accommodation at the University of
05/10/2009
Children are settling down to lessons in new classrooms after an £840,000 teaching extension was officially opened. Derbyshire County Council has carried out the building work at Risley Lower Grammar CE Primary School at Risley. The three classroom extension replaces temporary buildings which hous
05/10/2009
Members of the Exeter and South Devon Centre paid a recent visit to the new £28 million secondary school currently under construction by Interserve Building at Torquay Community College. The new glass and pre-cast concrete school is being built in the grounds of the existing 1938 Audley Park buildi
05/10/2009
E.ON, one of the UK's leading energy companies, has announced that it has reduced the average bill of its dual fuel product 'FixOnline 3' by £191. The reduction follows E.ON's recent WinterGas launch, and makes FixOnline 3 once again the cheapest dual fuel energy product available on a nationwide
05/10/2009
Bristol's On Site Apprentice of the Year is Tom Trevett of Kingswood. Tom, who completed an Advanced Apprenticeship in Bricklaying in July, will now represent On Site and City of Bristol College as one of only 12 finalists in this year's national SkillBuild Final in Glasgow - 6 to 9 October 2009.
05/10/2009
Kier Northern is the winner of the Yorkshire and Humber Constructing Excellence Health & Safety Award, in recognition of its achieving an accident incident rate (AIR) of zero. The company has exceeded 1.2 million man-hours – and £60m of work - without a lost time accident. The AIR of zero is signif
02/10/2009
Tender prices for new construction work may not start rising until 2011, and won't return to pre-recession levels during the forecast period, says the latest five year forecast from the BCIS the Building Cost Information Service of the RICS. Tender prices are predicted to fall 5.2% in 2009 and a f
02/10/2009
The national final of SkillBuild, at South Lanarkshire College, has been launched by MSP for Schools and Skills, Keith Brown. Also helping to kick-off the competition were 11 Scottish apprentices who will be battling it out to become the UK's best trades' person. SkillBuild is Britain's biggest co
02/10/2009
Following the successful fit-out of the Manchester Civil Justice Centre, global construction company Carillion has awarded Mivan the £8 million fit-out of the Rolls Building in London. This will provide new court facilities for Her Majesty’s Courts Service (HMCS). Mivan's 12-month contract covers
02/10/2009
The Competition Commission (CC) has formally recommended to the Department of Communities and Local Government (CLG) - and the devolved administrations in Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland - that they take the necessary steps to introduce a competition test in planning decisions on larger grocery
02/10/2009
Children are settling down to lessons in new classrooms after an £840,000 teaching extension was officially opened. Derbyshire County Council has carried out the building work at Risley Lower Grammar CE Primary School at Risley. The three classroom extension replaces temporary buildings which hous
02/10/2009
According to Noble Francis, Economic Director of the Construction Products Association, the Market Insights report "clearly identifies the issues of key importance in the housing market regarding the speed of the recovery and the long term needs of the country". Produced by research consultancy Hob
02/10/2009
House prices rose by 0.9% in September according to Nationwide. This is the fifth consecutive monthly increase, and is pushing property values up to levels last seen a year ago. Commenting on the figures Martin Gahbauer, Nationwide's Chief Economist, said: "The recent upward momentum in house pri
02/10/2009
Andover Trailers is helping a Yorkshire-based access platform firm expand into the heavy plant hire business with the delivery of a pair of Volvo 6x2 and 8x2 rigids mounted with Andover Trailers plant bodies. Lifterz will use the vehicles to deliver a wider variety of access platforms from the comp
02/10/2009
Rok has announced its appointment as a partner in eight new framework arrangements. These are expected to generate up to £140m of revenue over the next five years for the property repair and maintenance specialist. Scottish Water has named Rok as one of 17 companies chosen to help deliver a progra
02/10/2009
The EDF Group has announced that it is initiating a process to evaluate ownership options for its electricity distribution business in the United Kingdom. This is in line with EDF Group's intention, already announced in February 2009, to reduce its net financial debt by at least €5 billion by the
01/10/2009
The Chartered Institute of Housing (CIH) raised concerns following the Prime Minister's speech to the Labour Party Conference, that housing risks losing profile in the next general election, and urged the sector to ensure that a new government focuses on housing as a major priority. Sarah Webb, Chi
01/10/2009
The Homes and Communities Agency (HCA) and CALA Homes (Midlands) have exchanged contracts to progress the development of 112 new homes at the Royal Shrewsbury Hospital South site. The deal, subject to planning approval, sees the national housing and regeneration agency and the award winning housebu
01/10/2009
The construction and housebuilding group, Galliford Try, has been appointed on five contracts in the affordable housing and regeneration sectors totalling £36.1 million. A contract worth £20 million will see Galliford Try carrying out the design and build of a regeneration programme called The Tid
01/10/2009
The Infrastructure Planning Commission (IPC) has opened for business to advise developers of new large infrastructure projects vital to the country's future - such as power stations, roads, railways and airports - in preparation for the major planning applications the IPC will consider from March 20
01/10/2009
The Olympic Delivery Authority's (ODA) 'Construction Crew' project is once again giving local schoolchildren the chance to be a part of London 2012. The project offers pupils the opportunity to see progress being made at the Olympic Park first-hand, and take part in workshops to promote leadership,
01/10/2009
The Home Builders Federation (HBF) has called for all political parties to prioritise action to tackle the critical issues identified in the 'Mind the Gap' report. The report highlights a growing and damaging shortfall in the supply of housing which could approach one million homes by the end of ne
01/10/2009
The transformation of Shipley Lakeside came a step closer after Derbyshire County Council's cabinet gave the go-ahead for negotiations to start on the sale of 160 acres of the site to Derbyshire Wildlife Trust, and Waystone has been announced as a preferred bidder for the inner part of the site. De
01/10/2009
As a partner contractor to Salford City Council, Cruden Construction are supporting the 'Shared Apprenticeship Scheme' funded by Salford City Council and Construction Skills. Construction Director Ian Woolrich and Labour and Training Manager Barry Curran attended the official launch of the scheme ho
01/10/2009
At a time where the need for affordable housing is greater than ever, Norwich City Council is leading the way in developing solutions to the challenges many face in finding decent homes and work. Norwich City Council is hosting a conference on 21 October at the Kings Centre, King Street for housing
01/10/2009
The Health and Safety Executive (HSE) has warned of the dangers of working on fragile roofs, following the conviction of a Lancashire-based company and a director for breaching the Health and Safety at Work etc Act 1974. The warning follows a serious incident in which Mr Lucasz Czuba, 26, of Longbe
01/10/2009
The Royal Institute of British Architects (RIBA) has announced that it will freeze all of its membership rates for 2010, as part of the Institute's continuing drive to support its members through the current period of economic difficulty. The rates will remain at the 2009 levels for all membership
